The Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration (MACSM) is a tripartite body, comprising industry, union and government representatives, which provides advice to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs on Australia’s temporary and permanent skilled migration programs and associated matters.
Terms of Reference
MACSM will advise the Minister on:
- policy settings to optimise the contribution of skilled migration to Australia’s economy, including in regional Australia, and in attracting the best and the brightest
- the size and composition of Australia’s temporary and permanent skilled migration programs
- skill shortages in the labour market which cannot be met from the domestic labour force and domestic training and education programs
- opportunities to reduce regulatory burdens and costs on Australian businesses seeking to access visa programs to fill genuine skilled vacancies
- policies to ensure that Australian workers are afforded priority in the labour market
- the migration needs of states and territories, especially in the regions
- the adequacy of regulatory powers of the Department of Home Affairs to ensure integrity and detect and prevent practices which are inconsistent with the intent of the programs
- opportunities to address the exploitation of migrant workers
- policies to ensure Australia’s migration programs contribute to Australia’s security and prosperity
- the migration system's ongoing effectiveness, including its alignment with Government priorities and intended outcomes.
An Expert Sub-committee of MACSM has been established to support the Minister and MACSM through the provision of robust, evidence-based, expert analysis and advice; and progress project work to deliver agreed outcomes, including via:
- relevant analysis and/or research papers
- provision of advice on preferred approaches, based on academic/international migration program expertise
- provision of relevant benchmarking with international approaches
- other deliverables, as requested by the Minister.
In providing advice MACSM gives consideration to the broader migration context while retaining a focus on skilled migration.
The Department of Home Affairs provides secretariat support to MACSM.
List of MACSM members for February 2024 - June 2025
Core committee member organisations
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
Mr Andrew McKellar
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
Ms Michele O’Neil
Australian Industry Group (AiG)
Mr Innes Willox
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU)
Mr Steve Murphy
Australian Meat Industry Employee’s Union (AMIEU)
Mr Matthew Journeaux
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF)
Ms Annie Butler
Business Council of Australia (BCA)
Mr Bran Black
Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)
Ms Melinda Cilento
Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA)
Mr Luke Achterstraat
Electrical Trades Union (ETU)
Mr Michael Wright
National Farmers Federation (NFF)
Mr Tony Mahar
Regional Australia Institute (RAI)
Ms Liz Ritchie
Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA)
Mr Gerard Dwyer
United Workers Union (UWU)
Mr Tim Kennedy
The Hon Andrew Giles MP - Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, chairs the MACSM core committee meetings.
Expert sub committee members
Ms Elizabeth Collett (Chair)
Global Fellow
Migration Policy Institute
Associate Professor Anna Boucher
The University of Sydney
Mr Brendan Coates
Program Director
Grattan Institute
Associate Professor Bassina Farbenblum
University of New South Wales
Professor Joanna Howe
Professor of Law
The University of Adelaide
Professor Jane McAdam
Scientia Professor of Law and Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow
Director of the Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at UNSW Sydney
Mr David Wilden
Fellow at Centre for Policy Development
Associate Professor Chris F Wright
The University of Sydney Business School
